Bongen Coffee ★ 4.1

Wife and Husband Coffee ★ 4.6

A Showa-styled hand-drip roaster in north Kyoto, married-couple run with house-roasted beans. Picnic baskets to take to nearby Kamogawa banks.

Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala

How they serve: Hand-drip, Whole bean retail

Vermillion Cafe ★ 4.3

The pond-side sister to Vermillion's espresso bar at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. Australian-style flat whites, in-house roast and the rare Kyoto bagel set.

Sources from: Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia

How they serve: Espresso, Whole bean retail

Iolite Coffee Roasters ★ 4.8

Iolite in Nakagyo in Kyoto is Daisuke Yoshida's roaster inside his grandfather's old wagashiya, cedar beams, single-origins, light-roast V60 and espresso.

Tip: Tiny back nook seats four; mornings are calmest. Cuppings by appointment.

Sources from: Single-origin Africa, Central America and Asia

How they serve: Hand-pour V60, espresso

Ogawa Coffee Honten ★ 4.2

The 1952 Kyoto roaster's flagship beside Nishiki Market. Wholesale supplier to half the city's kissaten, in-house cafe, espresso plus filter brew bar.

Sources from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Yirgacheffe, Colombia

How they serve: Filter, Espresso, Wholesale, Whole bean retail

% Arabica Higashiyama Roastery ★ 4.5

% Arabica's roastery cafe in Higashiyama, Kyoto, on the Yasaka Pagoda slope. Their global beans roasted on-site for the city's 23 sister bars.

Sources from: Hawaii Kona, El Salvador, Ethiopia

How they serve: Espresso, Whole bean retail, Wholesale

Unir Coffee Roasters Kyoto ★ 4.7

Unir's downtown Kyoto cafe-roaster, the husband-and-wife founders chasing Panama Geisha lots. Long-fermented coffees, kettle brew, slow service.

Sources from: Panama Geisha, Costa Rica, Ethiopia

How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription